Ramona Gentry doesn't fashion herself a star teacher. The humble educator keeps her focus on getting her 7th grade science students to perform at their best. "It will help them in their future and sometimes they don't realize that at 12 years old."

Gentry's students give her high marks for her willingness to always help... Offering a study group at the end of the day to get students caught up, or ready for an upcoming test. "Just to help kids that are struggling, sometimes they have done poorly on a test and we can do a retake and they can recover from a bad grade if they need to." Student Emily Romero says "I've been really good at Science this year because of her. Like I understand it more."

During a recent assignment on Newton's laws of motion, Gentry ditches the text book, in favor of a hands on experiment.

Projects like this one are commonplace in Gentry's classroom. In fact, later this year, students will dissect frogs. Student Brittany Satterthwaite can't wait! "Its just, I think its so cool to see the inside of a frog."

Gentry says she was a quiet student. So as a teacher, she works to draw students out of their comfort zone. "We need to be approachable. And I think that the kids in class when I ask them questions (need to know) its ok if they're not correct." Student Aliah Sparks appreciates all Gentry does. "She's very easy to work with, she's very understanding. She gets everything that we do."